חֲרִישִׁי (cha.ri.shi)
cha.ri.shi
scorching
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew word ḥărîšî appears only once in the entire Bible, in Jonah 4:8. Its meaning is highly uncertain, with lexicons offering conflicting options such as "scorching," "sultry," or even "silent." The context describes a severe heat wave that follows God’s provision of a plant for shade, causing Jonah to faint from exhaustion.
Most translations render it as "scorching" or "burning" east wind, emphasizing the physical intensity of the heat. However, some scholars note that the root might relate to silence or stillness, suggesting a stagnant, oppressive air rather than a blowing wind. This ambiguity reflects the difficulty of pinning down a term used in such a unique literary moment.
The word’s rarity and uncertainty highlight the poetic nature of Jonah’s narrative. Whether understood as intense heat or heavy stillness, it serves to intensify Jonah’s distress, contrasting sharply with the relief he felt under the plant. This single usage leaves readers to grapple with the precise sensation God allowed to afflict His prophet.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Jonah 4:8 describes a moment of intense physical suffering where God sends a scorching east wind that beats down on Jonah’s head. This rare Hebrew word highlights how deeply our bodies can affect our spirits. When we are exhausted by heat or pressure, our patience often wears thin, and we may feel overwhelmed by circumstances that seem designed to break us.
Yet even in this harsh scene, God remains present. He provided shade through a plant, showing care for Jonah’s comfort, and then allowed the wind to test his heart. This reminds us that God uses both relief and hardship to shape our character. We do not have to understand every detail of our struggles; we can trust that He is working in the heat just as much as in the shade.
When life feels too heavy, remember that your Creator sees your fatigue. You are not alone in your struggle. May you find peace in knowing that God’s purposes are good, even when the path ahead seems difficult and hot.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hot1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲרִישִׁ֔ית1×
Key Verses
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Jonah 4:8
When the sun arose, God prepared a sultry east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he was faint and requested for himself that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”
This word describes the sultry east wind that beats on Jonah's head, intensifying his physical distress after God removes the plant's shade.